COVID Lungs 8wks plus

[baroqueandblue]

Saw the previous thread is almost full. Hope I've not duplicated a new thread! And I might not be the best person to be custodian of this one, so feel free someone else to start a replacement and I'll get this deleted. Otherwise -

Here we all are, at least 56 days plus 😕

@godhelpusall - the following link might be interesting www.nature.com/articles/ncpendmet0007 - this is for the original SARS so may not apply. I wouldn’t be surprised if the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axes is disrupted. On the plus side it looks like this mostly resolved with time.

That is very, very helpful godhelpusall thank you for taking the time to write it all out.

@godhelpusall - Just to add it might be worth asking for a morning blood cortisol test. If this comes out low the next step is normally a short synacthen test.

Hi all,
So I went to my old doctor today-should have really gone to him before. Showed him my blood test results and told him everything..literally had a big list written down.
I finished and he said every single thing I’d described was...anxiety.
I said I had been very anxious..I had my first ever panic attack a couple of weeks into the whole lockdown thing, so I do appreciate anxiety will be involved but is it everything?
He was surprised they hadn’t tested my thyroid, which I think I had years ago and was fine then. So I have that being tested and a couple of other things on Thursday( not too sure what they were)
With regards to the neck/back pain, he’s requested a neck scan and he asked if I wanted a brain/head scan for my own peace of mind. I asked him if he thinks I need it, he said no, but was up to me and he believes it’s high anxiety but we’ll explore every avenue.
He was concerned about my heart rate often being 115-130 in the mornings. When I asked about the numb lips/mouth etc, he said it definitely can be anxiety and I haven’t got Ms or am going to have a stroke etc. He was really kind and listened a lot. I kind of feel reassured but also not? I still have that underlying worry of something going on in the brain.
He wants me to take one of the calming tablets tonight, I’m actually worried too, which probably sounds ridiculous, hate taking anything and not knowing the effect these days..different from my youth!

What do you think about the diagnosis? Fobbing off with anxiety thing? Or it could be the case is all from that?

@whatnext2018
My doctor kept asking me that today, whether I feel anxious. I generally don't but I do feel anxious when symptoms start.
He shouldn't fob you off saying it's just anxiety but it sounds like he's willing to do testing which is good.

@whatnext2018 The face numbness is caused by the overbreathing.its more about the lack of Co2. My GP reassured me and I read into it.

@Mittens030869 that's how I feel about the chest X-ray. What actually could they see or do at this stage?

@Whatnext2018 my anxiety is through the roof particularly in the morning . I also have really bad muscle fatigue

Also I think anxiety is playing a big role here. I've absolutely no doubt that I had 8+ weeks of COVID issues but now I feel like my anxiety is through the roof because I've been so poorly and I'm terrified of being so poorly again. I've been reading about anxiety and CBT as I think that despite them not being able to give us any answers about whether we've had COVID, can get it again or our long-term health, if I can recognise the symptoms of anxiety and deal with them, it will help. The thought of going back to work is not helping)(primary teacher).

@WhatNext I hope your doctor was reassuring? Anxiety in itself is closely linked to inflammation and immune response, so it isn't surprising that many of us feel so anxious. Since I originally felt unwell in March I noted that of course having SOB and chest pain leads to anxiety - for understandable reasons. As we gradually recover anxiety can be experienced as a physical response, and I suppose this is adaptive and helpful to us - to protect us so that we can get better. Being hypervigilant about our health feels like it will keep us safe. Hope that makes some sort of sense.

@ofwarren Exactly. There isn't anything they can do that they haven't already tried, I think. They've tried antibiotics, which didn't work before so they're not likely to work now.

I'll have the antibody test when they're available, and my DD2 as well (she had the symptoms for 4 days), which might give me some closure in that we might test positive, but those tests might not show anything so long after when we first started showing symptoms. At least I know I don't have the virus now so I no longer need to self isolate.

I already had CFS so I always knew that catching COVID-19 would affect me badly. I haven't died and I haven't had to go to hospital, so I guess I have a lot to be grateful for. And my DH can work from home, so we're doing fine financially. So we're better off than a lot of people. But it's still very sad, not just for me but for our DDs.

Thanks all,

Felt a bit reassured but not totally convinced is all just anxiety, if that makes sense? I said to him I was amazed that high anxiety could cause such a range of varied symptoms, he said is most definitely can because the brain is the most powerful thing in the body. I’m not sure..everything? The legs, neck, back, diarreah, fast heart rate, dizziness, numbness, tingling..some mornings I feel no anxiety but my heart rate is really high so sonething is going on there.
I’ve been anxious before, but this comes in waves of something gripping me..it’s odd and frightening.
Scared about having a brain scan too.

@Mytimetogo But I’m not sure I am over breathing when it comes on? My oxygen levels aren’t low at that time. I can be feeling ok.and it just happens, or I can be simply getting my dd’s lunch ready chatting to her and waves of dizziness will come over me from nowhere..I’m not sure if that’s anxiety 🤷‍♀️

@godhelpusall Hope your okay, the anxiety is crippling isn’t it, just horrendous, try your best to relax somehow, watch funny, mindless crap, listen to music, sit outside by trees and flowers etc, it seems to help a little 💐

Oh and I remember someone (or a couple of people) mentioning about pain behind the ear? Today just randomly I had a sharp pain at the top behind my right ear..quite painful and out of nowhere.
I find it interesting how many of us have similar symptoms and on a similar timescale

@Whatnext2018 I agree. Mine comes in waves too, I can feel it spreading. Awful toxic feeling.

I’ve been having what I think are anxiety/panic attacks all day, and I think I’ve had mini adrenaline rushes today. I’ve wanted to burst into movement right before the fear took hold.
I felt so much better last week and in the last three days I’ve collapsed into three weeks ago.
I’ve got such bad chest and shoulder blade pain again, it all feels horribly bruised and sore inside. I can’t find a comfortable position to lie in, the same as a month ago. If I can take a deep breath it’s painful.

I have a phone appointment with the GP on Tuesday to see how I am on propranolol, I’m going to beg her for anti anxiety meds. She was considering antidepressants but wanted me to settle on the beta blockers first. I’ve never taken any kind of antidepressant before, do they work?

Good evening
Just checking in after an ok week. I have managed to do what I have needed to do all week but still tired. Husband two weeks behind me has had a small dip and gone to bed early some evenings with shortness of breath, tiredness and reflux. However he has remained mobile and has half built a small brick wall . He is a brickie but what would normally take two days has taken him a week and he has not finished. He is not worried. Due to his kidney function he went to our small cottage hospital today for a blood test today to see what his kidney function is after this, Results will take some time to come through. Are we better? yes but not our normal self .Still concentrating on good eating, resting ,plenty of fluid and supplements to get better. It is getting better but very slowly. Monday will see me have a go at completing my first full day back in school luckily no children in just prep for their return. So glad to see some small improvement in some of you and I wish those who feel not so well improvement. I think we just need to take each small step forward . But can someone still tell me why I have this ache under my shoulder blades a lot of the time and around my back rib height and at times in my right elbow. It is really starting to annoy me.

*You’re not your

@Crayfishforyou
That’s so hard, totally sympathise, I’ve been similar this last two weeks, it’s just built up more and more and I’m also sure some days I’m having one or two attacks a day, or something is happening.
I’ve been prescribed anti anxiety tablets and was going to start tonight but think will tomorrow..I know that I really should but worry about caring for my Dd as I’m with her alone for 10–11 hours per day. The doctor said they may make me fall asleep..it’s just not an option, I’m also feeling weird about possibly being out of control but my dp has almost begged me to try them and my Mum thinks would be a good idea too..if only to see if the other things go and it is all down to anxiety.
I had moments of anxiety in my life but nothing serious and no panic attacks, this is almost like developing some panic disorder overnight, really strange.

So nauseaus tonight. My stomach is churning and I know if I go to the bathroom it will be loose.
I had this last night too. No idea what is triggering it.
I've had no appetite at all for the last couple of days. I've hardly eaten at all today really. Maybe the nausea is hunger.... I don't even know any more.

@Meercatmama
What supplements are you taking if you don't mind me asking?

@Whatnext2018 anxiety can cause all those symptoms but so can lots of other things, including, from evetyone’s experience on here, COVID-19. If you are anxious (understandably) I’m sure this won’t be helping but it may not also be/probably isn’t the full story.

@ofwarren try to eat something you may feel better for it I have not long had a week of getting up for the toilet myself

@baroqueandblue, are you okay?

Also wonder how @Tangledyarn is getting on?